Kramer vs. Kramer' didn't teach me how to be a father, but it taught me about the kind of father I one day wanted to become. One of the first modern films to examine male parenting from a serious, emotional perspective, this excellent adaptation of Avery Corman's novel proved men can be just as loving, nurturing, and sensitive as women. Robert Benton's film had a profound effect on me when I first saw it back in 1979, teaching me a dad didn't have to be a detached, stern workaholic; he could be an active, participatory parent. Though the role of fathers in our society has certainly evolved in the three decades since 'Kramer vs. Kramer' premiered, any correlation between the film and the liberation of American dads is difficult to prove. This much, however, is true: Ted Kramer inspired me ...

Melissa Leo probably won't win the Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a frazzled mother driven to extremes in 'Frozen River,' but that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve it. On the contrary, Leo gets under her character's skin and files one of the year's most natural, least histrionic performances. From her first revealing close-up, Leo rivets our attention and holds it throughout Courtney Hunt's tight, thoughtful independent film. Sadly, though, not enough Academy voters will probably take the time to see this quiet gem to give Leo a shot at victory on Oscar night.'Frozen River' is that rare mix of the everyday and unfamiliar, a simple story of poverty and sacrifice that takes place in one of our country's hidden nooks and crannies. Hunt, who wrote the screenplay as well as directed, takes issues and dynamics we never knew ...

I tend to like the family life dramas. However, this movie let me down. There was potential, but it just didn’t follow through. “Unfaithful” was released in 2002 to moderate success. Critics gave it a solid “B” average, while audiences rated it a bit lower (probably due to the fact that there are no explosions). They film did decently well at the box office, grossing just a tad over $50 million in the US. The reported budget of the film was about $50 million, so with the US sales combined with the international box office sales, the film did make a tiny profit.
“Unfaithful” attempts to combine a love triangle affair with murder and deception. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t work in this film. When watched, it feels like two distinct films placed back to back. The first half or ...

After hearing so many positive reviews of "The Duchess" I must admit I was quite looking forward to reviewing this title. Unfortunately, I find it tough to understand why "The Duchess" received such wonderful reviews during its theatrical run. The film is bland, boring, and so simplistic it is insulting to some of the better English films.
Keira Knightley plays the Duchess of Devonshire, a spunky woman with the best fashion sense during the late 1700s. Ralph Fiennes is the Duke of Devonshire, who is so bland I sit writhing in my chair. Haley Atwell is the only life to the film. She is sexually liberated for the time period and has a great presence surrounding her. That's basically all for the characters.
The story is even worse. It is so ordinary and simplistic you sit just waiting for something to change. ...

"Burn After Reading" is a typical near miss film. It is loaded with an all-star cast and the incredible writing/directing team of the Coen brothers. "Burn After Reading" is the Coen brothers' follow-up to their smash hit, "No Country for Old Men." Unfortunately, it is nowhere near the caliber of that film, or even classics like "Fargo" and "The Big Lebowski."
To explain the plot of the film would be a futile act. But, essentially, it revolves around Osbourne Cox (John Malkovich), and ex-CIA analyst that discovers his wife Katie (Tilda Swinton) is having an affair. Then, there is Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), and her partner in crime, Chad (Brad Pitt), that discover a CD which they believe is filled with highly-classified CIA intelligence. Ultimately they try to blackmail Cox, the owner of the material, so that Linda can get her ...